Application of closures to containers



A ril 17, 1945. J. F. PRICE ETAL 7 APPLICATION OF CLOSURES TO CONTAINERS,

Filed Feb. 20, 1940 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 0 I! I V l l I i I I I II Mn INVENTORS: film Price I i BY U2; saacLJVtlcoX,

ATTORNEYS.

April 945- J. F. pmca Em 2,373,708 APPLICATION QF GLOSURESTO CONTAINERS I Filed Feb. 20, 1940 e Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS: (film f: fi'

62 Isaac 1.. lX/ilcai,

" ATTORNEYS.

April 17, 1945. J F. PRICE ETAL APPLICATION OF GLOSURES T0 CONTAINERS Filed Feb. 20', 1940 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 BY ob 6 IIE E INVENTORS: a If Hive Isaac I 11001 ATTORNEYS April 17; 1945. J. F. PRICE EI'AL APPLICATION OF CLOSURES T0 CONTAINERS v Filed Feb. 20, 1940 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 p h lg .8 l 0 Au" T i 0 INVENTORS.

I1E A v3 .saacl. 1

ATTORNEYS A ril 17; 1945.

r J. F. PRICE arm.

APPLICATION OF GLOSURES TQ CONTAINERS Filed Feb. 20. 1940 e Sheets-Shet s \w 1 i. W 37/2 1 s 1 I [II llll .I

d I I W ATTORNEYS.

' Patented 17, 1945 f I N. Y., a corporation of New York Application February 20, 1940, Serial No. 319,918

12 Claims. !.226-83) This invention relates to a machine for apply:

ing closures to containers, which closures are 7 coated with a substance rendered adhesive by the application of heat. The specific embodiment of the machine herein referred to is intended for the application of closures in the nature 'of hood caps to containers in the form of milk bottles.

The invention has as an object a closure ap-'-' I plying machine embodying a particularly efparticularly described in the Madden patentreferred to.

A bottle conveyor 28 is arranged in juxtaposi tion to the forward side of the'machine, and the bottles are fed from the conveyor 28 onto the turret 24 by an in-feed star wheel 29, and thecontainers or bottles to which closures have been applied and secured are transferred from the turret 24 to the conveyor 28 by an out-feed star flcient structure which is operable to apply 010- 10 wheel 30. -The bottles are guided during movesures on containers with great rapidity, and which ment by the star wheels by a guide member 3|. closures may be coated with any form of sub- The star wheels 28, 30 are rotated in synchrostance rendered self-securing by the application 7 nism with the turret 24 as is conventional in maof heat. "chines of this type.

The invention consists in the novel features 15 As the uncapp ott are d o to the turand in the combinations and constructions hereret by the star wheel, a closure or cap is deinafter set forth and claimed. posited on the top of each bottle. The closures In describing this invention, reference is had herein referred to are in the form of paper disks to the accompanying drawings in which like having a central discoidal portion. 35 which apcharacters designate corresponding parts in all proximately fits the, tops of I the bottles, and a the views. flaring skirt portion 36. At least the skirt por-.

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of a mation is coated or impregnated with a substance chine embodying-our invention. which is rendered moldable and adhesive by the Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view of the maapplication of heat to the cap. The caps are chine shown-in Figure 1', with parts shown in heated or brought to properv temperature after. elevation. they have been deposited on the tops of the bot- Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view taken tles and thereafter,- the skirt portions are folded substantially on line 3-3, Figure 2. about the top of the bottles and are maintained Figure iis a view taken on .substantially'line in contracted position by the adhesive or binder. 1 4-4, Figure 2. The caps are arranged in stack formation in a Figure 5 is a top plan view of the transmission magazine 31 with the discoidal portion 35 exwith parts shown in section. v tending downwardly, and the magazine being ar- Figure 6 is a view partly in section and partly ranged to support the stack of caps in this posiin elevation taken on line 6-6, Figure 5. v tion and beingopen at the lower end to permit Figure? is a view taken on line 1-1, Figure 5. 5 successive removal of the caps by a cap trans- Figure 8 is a sectional view of the air pump fer member 38.: taken on a line corresponding to 8--8, Figure '7. The cap transfer member is provided with'a The machine herein described is in general suction cup 39 and the member is oscillated about form and construction similar to the machinev a pivot point 40 to move the suction cup upwardly disclosed in Patent No. 2,177,990 to L. J. Madden, 40 into engagement with the lowermost cap in the October 31, 1939, and in numerous instances refstack formation, withdraw the cap from the magerenoe will be made to said patent for a more azine 31 and subsequently release the cap, where-- specific description of various structures of the upon it drops upon a plurality of screw conveyors machine. 4| extending lengthwise through a housing 43 g This machine consists of a base 20 in which 45 arranged on the top section 44 of the machine. is mounted a driving motor 2| operatively con- The arrangement is such that the screw conveynected by a belt 22 to a transmission'arranged in ors 4| support a plurality of caps. That is, a housing 23. The machine is provided with means plurality of caps are maintained in the housing in the nature of a turret 24 for supporting and 43 and as the screw conveyors 4| are revolved, advancing a plurality of bottles. The turret 24 the caps are progressed toward the forward side is iournalled on a column 25 arranged centrally of, the machine and successively discharged into of the base, the turret .being supported by antia passage 46 which terminates adjacent to the friction bearing 26 and being rotated by a sprocket tops of .the containers as they are being fed onto 21' which is operatively connected to: the -transthe turret 24 by the star wheel 29. mission in housing 22 by a chain drive. as more The upper section 44 of the-machine is carried by a post 66 extending upwardly from the base 20 within the column. 26. The lower end of the post 5|] is threaded into a nut 5| which is provided with a gear 52. The gear 52 meshes with a pinion mounted on a shaftjournalled in the base 20 and which is manually operable by a. crank arranged on the exterior of the base. Upon rotation of the nut 5|, the post 56 is adjusted ver-' tically and accordingly, the structure carried by the post may be moved toward and from the turret 24. The pinion, shaft, and manual are not shown. However, this construction for vertically adjusting the super-structure of the machine to accommodate bottles of different heights is commonly employed and well understood by those familiar with machines of this type.

After the closures have been deposited upon the tops of the bottles, they are heated by an oven arrangement positioned above the tops of the bottles and extending from a, point adjacent the in-feed'star wheel 29 toward the rear of the machine. This oven is of 'arcuate formation consisting of an inner member 56, substantially U- shaped in cross section, and an outer member 56. A layer of insulating material 51 is arranged between the inner and outer walls 55, 56.

Heating elements 60 are arranged within the oven and are operable to radiate heat downwardly on the caps positioned on the tops of the bottles to properly condition the caps during advancement of the bottles by the turret. The heating members 60 are electrically operated, and the terminals extend through the outer wall of the oven as at 6|, Figure 3. The ovenis supported by brackets 62 depending from a cylindrical closure 63 carried by the top section 46.

The heated caps are contracted about the tops of the bottles by a plurality of contracting heads 65 arranged in an annular series positioned above the turret 24, with a head positioned in alinement with each bottle supported by the turret. The contracting heads 65 are carried by a supporting member 66 which, in. turn, is rotatably mounted upon and supported by, the post 50. The supporting member 66 is provided with a depending cylindrical flange 61 which telescopes over a cylindrical hub 68 extending upwardly from the turret 24. The hub 66 is provided with a vertically extending keyway 16 to slidably -receive a key 1| secured within the flange 61, whereby the supporting member 66 and the heads 65 carried thereby are rotated in unison with the turret.

The heads 65 are slidably mounted on the periphery of the supporting member 66 and are moved vertically toward and from the bottles by means of a circular track 12, each head being provided with a roller 13 engaging or riding upon the track I2. The track I2 is arranged so that the heads are elevated above the bottles as the capped bottles enter the out-feed star wheel 30 and the heads remain in elevated position throughout a substantial portion of their travel, or until they have reached a point just beyond the rear end of the cap heating oven. Thereupon, the track 12 permits the heads to descend to cap contractingposition; and the heads remain in this position until again elevated at a point adjacent the out-feedstar wheel". The heads 66 are elevated sufllciently to clear the heating oven, as shown in Figure 2. p v

Each head contains an annular series of cap contracting members which are movable radially upon oscillation of the member I6. Adjacent each of the heads 66 a shaft I6 is vertically journalled in the supporting member 66.. The lower end of the shaft is provided with a rock arm 11 engageable with the member 15 in all vertical positions thereof. The upper end of the shaft "is provided with a rock arm 18 having a roller I9 engaging a track 86. The shaft 16 is rotated in one direction to move the cap contracting members radially inwardly by a spring 8| acting against an intermediate rock arm 82. The shaft i held against rotation by spring 8| by engagement of the roller 16 with the track 80. The track 80 is arranged to maintain the cap contracting members in expanded condition while the heads are traveling from a point adjacent the outfeed star wheel-until the heads descend upon the heated caps. Thereafter, the track permits the shaft 16 to be rotated by spring 8| to contract the cap about the top of the bottle and to hold the cap thus contracted until the capped bottle approaches the out-feed star wheel. Reference may again be had to the Madden patent referred to for a. detail description of the construction of the heads 65.

' In order that the caps may be successively removed from the magazine 31 and deposited on the tops of the bottles, mechanism is employed for operating the cap transfer, 38 and the screw conveyors 6| in proper timed relationship to the a shaft 90 is provided with a'beveled gear 92 arranged to mesh with a. similar gear 93 secured to the upper end of a shaft 66 extending upwardly from the gear housing 23 and which is rotated intermittently in timed relation. to the rotation of the turret 24.

A cylindrical cam 85 is secured to the shaft 90 intermediate the brackets ill and is provided with a gear 96. An angle lever lBlis pivotally mounted as at 98 on the rear of the housing 43. One arm of the lever 91 is positioned in the groove of cam 95, and the opposite arm. is connected to the transfer member 38 as by link 99.

A gear I is secure'dto the rear end of each of the screw conveyors 6| with the gears arranged in mesh with each other and one of the gears being arranged in mesh with a gear ||l| rotatably mounted upon thestud |02.and secured to a gear I03 arranged in mesh with the gear 96. The arrangement is such that upon one revolution of the shaft 60,- the cap transfer member is moved into engagement with the lowermost cap of the stack formation and then-moved to thecap discharge position shown in Figure 2; During this movement, the suction cup 39 is provided with vacuum inthe conventional manner. Simultaneously during movement of the cap transfermember 38, thescrew conveyors 4| are rotated sufllciently to advance the procession of caps to cause the cap on the forward end of the conveyors to be discharged into the passageway 46 5 mounted for oscillation on the base 26, the free end of the lever being provided with a roller I05 arranged to be engaged by each bottle as the same 7 is transferred from the conveyor 28, see Figure 3.

The cap transfer mechanism described is disclosed in the Madden patent referred to, and in the Wright Patent No. 2,047,846, July 14, 1936,

and per se forms no part of this invention.

' encas ment It wui' be obvious to those familiar. with machines of this type that the magazine 31 may Q be positioned on the front side of the machine .and the caps deposited in the passageway 46 directly by the cap transfer 38. However, the

arrangement described possesses certain advantages.

f The length of the cap heating oven depends upon the nature of the substance with which the caps are coated and the speed at which the turret 24 is revolved. Obviously, one coating substance may require .the application of much less' heat than another substance, in which event the length of oven could, of'course, be shortened. We have found-that certainv coating substances which might be used require a comparatively great amount of heat over a substantial period of time. This continued application of heat at a high degree has a tendency to warm the tops of the bottles which is objectionable in the case of certain products, such as milk which is bottled cold and which is preferably kept at a'low temperature until delivered to the consumer. In such instances, the housing 43 may be provided with heating elements I20 and so adjusted, orv

operated, as to maintain the interior of the housing 43 at a temperature sufficient to preheat the caps'advanced by thescrew conveyors 4|. Such preheated caps will not require prolonged exposure to the heating elements 60 of the cap heat.-

ing oven in order to bring the caps to proper moldable or sealing condition and accordingly, the length of the cap heating oven may be substantially reduced.

The preheating arrangement is also of great operated at a much greater speed with any particular cap. This meansthat the output of the machinemay be increased as much as 100 percent without inoreasing the size of the machine.

(in the other hand, if the caps are coated-with a substance which does not necessitate the prea flattened surface I22 to receive a wrench, or other tool, to permit the machine to be rotated by hand for convenience in making adjustment of the various moving mechanism of the machine.

. A worm I24 is secured to the .shaft H0 and is arranged to mesh with. a worm gear I25 mounted upon a shaft I26 journalled in the housing 23 .and extending at right angles to the shaft I I0.

A bell crank I2! is secured to one end of the shaft I26 and is operatively connected to a connecting rod I28 of a vacuum pum I29 which is connected by suitable tubing to the suction cup 39 carried by the cap transfer member 38, see5Figure 2;

A beveled gear I30 issecured-to the opposite end of the shaft I26 and is arranged to engage a gear I3I secured to a. sleeve I32 which is rot-atably mounted upon a hollow shaft I33 journalled in vertical position in the housing 23. A second sleeve I35 is rotatably mounted upon theupper end of the shaft I33, the upper end of the sleeve I35 being mounted in a bearing I36 carried by the housing 23. j

A pinion I31 is also secured to the sleeve I32 and is arranged to mesh with a spur gear I38 mounted upon a shaft I39 vertically journalled in advantage in that it permits the machine to be the housing 23 and being provided at its upper end with a sprocket I40,

When the clutch member I I2 is in engagement Y with the driven pulley III, the sleeve I32 and sprocket I40 are driven continuously. A chain I is trained over the sprocket I40 and over a larger sprocket operatively connected to a sprocket I42. A chain I43 is trained over the sprocket I42, sprocket 21 secured to the hub of the turret 24, and over sprockets I45 associated with the infeed star wheel 29 and the out-feed star wheel 30, whereby the turret 24 and the star wheels 29, 30 are operated in synchronism.

The upper end of the sleeve I35, Figure '7, is

- formed with a splined bore to receive the lower heating of the caps, the housing 43 and the screw conveyors 4I merely serve as part of the cap' transfer mechanism. v

Whether the screw conveyors 4I merely act as part of the cap transfer mechanism, or the housing 43 is heated to effect preheating of the caps,

the machine operates to more emciently, and in a more practical manner, apply the closures to the containers.

The transmission housing 23 is arranged in the rear side of the base 20. The transmission consists of a shaft IIO journalled, horizontally in the housing and extending outwardly through constantly rotating sleeve splined end of the shaft 94, and clutch mechanism .is employed to connect the sleeve I35 with the I32, which clutch mechanism is under the control of the lever I04 previously referred to in connection with Figure 3 of the drawings.

. A collar I50 is secured to the upper end of the sleeve I32 and is formed with a notch I5I in the upper face thereof. A pawl, I52 isslidably one side thereof with the ,driven pulley III rotatably mounted upon the extending portion of the shaft. A clutch member. mounted upon the shaft and fixed against rotation by a, key H3. The clutch member H2 is pressed into driving engagement with the pulley III by helical compression spring I portionof the clutch member is formed with a ll, The hub The opposite end of .the lever N6 the shaft I I6 is oscillated.

base 20 and is-provided with H2 'is slidably mounted in an axial direction in the sleeve I35 and is urged downwardly or toward the collar I50 by helical compression spring I53. The-pawl I52 is provided with a notch I55 intermediate its ends with the upper wall I56 of the notch extending in an angular direction, see Figure 6. The pawl I52 is urged downwardly so that thelower end of the pawl is positioned in the notch I5I and operatively connecting the collar I50 to the sleeve I35 thereby effecting rotation of the sleeve and the shaft 94. The pawl I52 is moved upwardly out The of engagement with the collar I50 by a member I60 secured to the lowerend of a shaft I59 journalled vertically in the housing 23. The arrangement is such that the free end of the member I58 is moved radially toward and from the axis of the sleeve its upon oscillation of the shaft I59. The free end of the member I58 is provided with a beveled surface I60 which coacts with the angu- I lar surface I06 of the pawl. When the member I50 is swung inwardly toward the sleeve I35, it engages the pawl I52-causing thelower end of the pawl to be elevated out of the notch. I5! and also stopping the pawl and the sleeve I35 in a predetermined position.

An arm I62 is secured to the upper en of the shaft I59, and a disk I63 is adjustably secured to the outer end of the arm. The disk I63 is providedwith a crank pin I64 to receive one end of axis of the star wheel 29 by the presence of a bot- 1. A machine .for applying closures to containers, which closures are coated with a substance rendered adhesive by the application of heat to make the closures self securing on the containers comprising a frame, means operable to advance a procession ofcontainers, means for 'supporting a supply of closures in stack formatle, the shaft I59 is oscillated through the linkage I65, I66, I61, previously described.

' This movement efl'ects disengagement of the member I58 from pawl I52, permitting it to descend into the notch I5I of the rotating collar I56. In this manner, the shaft 94 is rotated one revolution whereupon the member I58 again engages the pawl I52. Accordingly, a cap is transferred from the magazine 31 to the conveyor rolls 4I each time a bottle is fed into the star wheel 29. It will be understood that if the bottles are fed continuously into the star wheel, the lever I04 will be periodically actuated and the sleeve I35 rotated through repeated cycles. connecting lever I64 with member I58 is maintained in normal position by a helical tension The linkage spring llIl secured at one end to the base 20 and at the opposite end to an arm secured to shaft n66. justable to efiect the proper operation of the clutch mechanism, and'the disk I63 is formed with a radially extending portion III which serves as a manual or handle by which the clutch operating mechanism may be operated manually if such is desired in effecting the machine.

- In machines of the type disclosed in the Madden and Wright patents, caps coated with certain substances could not be used. For example, if it were necessary to maintain the ovens of those machines at a temperature greater than the ignition point of the caps in order to sufliciently heat the caps while they were progressed through the oven, and the machine should be stopped for any appreciable length of time, the entire supply of caps in the oven would be burned up and it would then be necessary t run the machine idle with the clutch to the'cap transfer mechanism engaged manually until the supply of caps in the oven was i replenished.

With the machine embodying our invention,

the caps may be entirely heated by the cap heating oven after thecaps have been deposited on the tops of the bottles, or if the preheating arrangement is used, the preheating temperature The disk I63 and the links I 65, I6I are ad initial adjustment of tion, closure transfer means operable to successively transfer said closures from said supply to the tops of said containers, a closure heating member extending over the tops of the containers and operable to heat the closures on the containers during the advancement thereof, and closure contracting 'means operable to contract the heated closures about the tops of the containers.

2. A machine for applying closures to containers, which closures are coated with a substance rendered adhesive by the application of heat to make the closures self securing on the containers comprising'a frame, means operable to advance a procession of containers, means for supporting a supply of closures, closure. transfer mechanism operable to successively, transfer closures from said supply and deposit the same on the top of said containers during the advancement thereof, a closure heating member extending over the tops of the containers and operable to heat the closures on the containers during the advancement thereof, and a. plurality of closure contracting members advanced in unison with the procession of containers and being operable to contract the heated closures about the tops of the containers during the advancement thereof.

3. A machine for applying closures to containers, which closures are coated with a subv stance rendered adhesive by the application of ret 24, positioned under the cap heating oven,

heat to make the closures self securing on the containers comprising a frame, means operable to advance a procession of containers along an elongated path, a closure magazine for containing a supply of closures, a closure transfer mechanism operable to successively transfer closures from said magazine and deposit the same on the tops of the containers during the advancement thereof, a closure heating member, extending over the tops of the containers and operable to heat the closures deposited on the containers during the advancement of said containers along a portion of said path, and closure contracting means operable to contract the heated closures about the tops of the containersduring the advancement of the containers along a, succeeding portion of said path.

4. A machine for applying closures to containers, which closures are coated with a substance rendered adhesive by the application of heat to make the closures self securing on the containers comprising a frame, means for sup- "porting a plurality of contaliners, a closure magazine containing a plurality of closures, a closure transfer mechanism operable to transfer a cloexchanging relation to said-closures and being operable to heat said closures, and a plurality of closure contracting members operable tocontract said heated closures about the tops of the containers.

5. ,A machine-for applying closures to containers, which closures are coated with a substance rendered adhesive by the application of heat to make the closures self securing on the containers comprising a frame, means for supporting a plurality of containers, means for supporting a supply or closures, means operable to transier closures from said supply and deposit the-same on the tops of said containers, closure heating means extending over thetops of said containers and operable to heat the closures after the same have been deposited on the containers, means operable to move said containers with the closures thereon out of heat exchanging relation with said heating means, and a plurality of clotransfer preheated closures from said supply and deposit the same on the tops of said containers,

' closure heating means operable to heat theolosures after the same have been deposited on said containers to closure securing temperature, and

a plurality of closure contracting members operable to contract the heated closures about the.

tops or the containers; 1

7. A machine ior applying closures to. containers, .which clomires are coated with a substance rendered adhesiveby the application of heat to make the closures self securing on the containers comprising a frame,- a turret journailed on the trams and operable to advance a procession of containera'a magazine containing a supply or closures, closure transfer mechanism operable totransi'er a closure from said magazine "and deposit the same onthe topoi each of said containers during the advancement thereof, a closure heating member or arcuate .rormation arranged above the topsoi-the containers and being p rable to heat the closures deposited thereon, a phirality of closure contracting membersarrangedabovesaidturretandoperabietoi contract the closures about the tops of thecontainers.

8.Amachine for applying closures to containera which are ,coated with-a substance rendered adhesive by the application of heat. can

prising a irame means operable to we phi'rality olcontainers, a closurepreheath! oven, means'operable to maintain a or closures in said-preheating ovenfand todepositaclosureonthetopoteach container on said support, a closure heating oven arranged iniuxtapos'iticn to said'containers on said supheat theclosures depo ted "onfsaid cmtaluers to proper moldable and self socurlusconditiomand'splumit gm tractingmsmbersopsrabletocontracttheheated 'closurol'aboutthetoplotthecontainers.

tlnthe'methodoiapplyingaclosuretoth o! a container, which closure is formed of .fll liblc'sheetmaterialwiththeskirtportionot the closure having a substance applied thereto makcthe'closuresselisecuringonthe' 'hsattomaketheclosmesselisecuringonthe W contain'erscomprisingairamamoansiorm of heat, those steps which include preheating the closure at a temperature below the ignition point or the closure material, depositing the closure on the top of the container, thereafter heating the closure sumciently to render said substance in self securing condition, and subsequently contracting said closure while in said condition about the top of the container.

10. In the method of applying a closure to the top of a container, which closure is formed of flexible sheet material with the skirt portion of the closure having a substance applied thereto which is rendered self securing by the application or heat, those steps which include maintaining a supply of said closures in preheated condition at a temperature below. the ignition point of the. closure material, depositing preheated closures on the tops of the containers, thereafter heating the closures deposited on the containers sumciently to render said substance in seltsecuring condition, and-subsequently contracting said heated closures while in such condition about the tops of the containers.

11. A machine for applying closures to containers, which closures are coated with a substance rendered adhesive-by the application of heat to make the closures self-securing on the containers comprising a frame, means for supporting aplurality of containers and advancing the same in a procession, means for supporting a supply of closures for quick successive delivery to containers, heating means operablejo maintain 'saidsupply or closures in a preheated condition,

closure transter'm'echanism operable to transfer 'preheated closures from said sim ly and depont the same on the tops of theicontainer's while advancing in said procession, a second heater means operable to heat the closu'reson aplurality or containers. to closure securing temperature duringthe advancement oi the containers, and a succession of closure contractingmembers movable in unison with the containers and operable to successivelycontract the heated closures about the tops or the containers during the advanceuncut-thereof,

' 12-. A machine for applying closures to containers,- which closures arecoated with a sub-.

stance rendered adhesive by the application or posting. a plurality of containers, means for supporting a supply oiclosures. means operable to transter closures i'rom' said supply and deposit thesameonthstollsotsaidcontsineraaclosure hoatingmembereltsndingjoverthetopsot aplurality oi'said containers and'operable to heat onthecontainemmsansoperabletoeflectrelative withthe clonnesthereonandsaidheatinimesnaanda 'nmwnmmmm'm.m i subsequent-to laid relative movement-teem!- tract the tops oi communes. rssscnwmcox,

tam.- 

